評論
打印
These three travellers were not Italians, but they understood him; and partly out of compassion, partly because they were excited with wine, they gave him soldi, jesting with him and urging him on to tell them other things; and as several ladies entered the saloon at the moment, they gave him some more money for the purpose of making a show, and cried: 'Take this! Take this, too!' as they made the money rattle on the table.
這三個乘客雖不是意大利人，卻聽懂了他的話，一半固了憐憫，一半固了吃酒以后的高興，給他少許的金錢，一面仍繼續著和他談說。這時有大批婦人從艙里走出來，她們聽了少年的話，也就故意要人看見似的拿出若干錢來擲在桌上，說：“這給了你，這也拿了去！”
"The boy pocketed it all, thanking them in a low voice, with his surly mien, but with a look that was for the first time smiling and affectionate. Then he climbed into his berth, drew the curtain, and lay quiet, thinking over his affairs. With this money he would be able to purchase some good food on board, after having suffered for lack of bread for two years; he could buy a jacket as soon as he landed in Genoa, after having gone about clad in rags for two years; and he could also, by carrying it home, insure for himself from his father and mother a more humane reception than would have fallen to his lot if he had arrived with empty pockets. This money was a little fortune for him; and he was taking comfort out of this thought behind the curtain of his berth, while the three travellers chatted away, as they sat round the dining-table in the second-class saloon. They were drinking and discussing their travels and the countries which they had seen; and from one topic to another they began to discuss Italy. One of them began to complain of the inns, another of the railways, and then, growing warmer, they all began to speak evil of everything. One would have preferred a trip in Lapland; another declared that he had found nothing but swindlers and brigands in Italy; the third said that Italian officials do not know how to read.
少年低聲答謝，把錢收入袋里，苦郁的臉上到這時才現出喜歡的笑容。他回到自己的床位上，拉攏了床幕，臥著靜靜地沉思：有了這些錢，可以在船里買點好吃的東西，飽一飽兩年來饑餓的肚子；到了熱那亞，可以買件上衣換上；拿了錢回家，比空手回去也總可以多少好見于父母，多少可以得著像人的待遇。在他看來，這金錢竟是一注財產。他在床位上正沉思得高興，這時那三個旅客圍牢了二等艙的食桌在那里談論著，他們一壁飲酒，一壁談著旅行中所經過的地方情形。談到意大利的時候，一個說意大利的旅館不好，一個攻擊火車。酒漸漸喝多了，他們的談論也就漸漸地露骨了。一個說，如其到意大利，還是到北極去好，意大利住著的都是拐子土匪。后來又說意大利的官吏都是不識字的。
"It's an ignorant nation," repeated the first. "A filthy nation," added the second. "Ro—" exclaimed the third, meaning to say "robbers"; but he was not allowed to finish the word: a tempest of soldi and half-lire descended upon their heads and shoulders, and leaped upon the table and the floor with a demoniacal noise. All three sprang up in a rage, looked up, and received another handful of coppers in their faces.
“愚笨的國民！”一個說。“下等的國民！”別一個說。“強盜……”還有一個正在說出“強盜”的時候，忽然銀幣銅幣就雹子一般落到他們的頭上和肩上，同時在桌上地板上滾著，發出可怕的聲音來。三個旅客憤怒了，舉頭看時，一握銅幣又被飛擲到臉上來了。
"Take back your soldi!" said the lad, disdainfully, thrusting his head between the curtains of his berth; "I do not accept alms from those who insult my country."
“拿回去！”少年從床幕里探出頭來怒叫。“我不要那說我國壞話的人的東西。”
